Israeli Minister Denied Field Access at Soccer Match Amid Election Campaign
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was denied access to the field at a Beitar Jerusalem soccer match due to election campaign restrictions. The Football Leagues Association had prohibited political campaigning during games. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was expected to attend, did not show up. A political party and fans also raised concerns about politicians using the match for election purposes.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was denied access to the field at a Beitar Jerusalem soccer match.
- The Football Leagues Association prohibited political campaigning during matches ahead of elections.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was expected to attend, ultimately did not appear.
- The "Yashar!" party warned against election propaganda during the broadcast.
- Beitar Jerusalem fans expressed opposition to politicians using matches for election campaigns.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was denied permission to go down to the field during a soccer match at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem, just eight days before the upcoming Knesset elections. Ben-Gvir, who also chairs the Otzma Yehudit party, attended the top-tier league game between Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv. He was seated in the VIP section, but requested to access the playing field, a request that Beitar Jerusalem officials opposed.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of directives issued to football clubs regarding election campaign activities. Erez Halfon, Chairman of the Football Leagues Association, had earlier informed Beitar Jerusalem's management that any election-related campaigning, including politicians descending to the field, was prohibited during matches. This directive applies to all candidates and parties without exception.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was reportedly considering attending the match, ultimately did not appear at the stadium. Reports indicated Netanyahu had contemplated attending the game for the first time since 2021. The possibility of his attendance had already sparked controversy.
The "Yashar!" party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, had sent a warning letter to "Sport Channel," demanding that election propaganda not be broadcast during the game. The party expressed concern that the Prime Minister's potential appearance so close to the elections could be used for political promotion, urging the channel to prepare for interruptions of political messages and warning of potential appeals to the Central Elections Committee.
Some Beitar Jerusalem fans also voiced opposition to politicians attending matches during the election period. A post on a major fan page stated that Teddy Stadium is not a branch of any party and Beitar is not a backdrop for election campaigns, clarifying that their criticism was not directed at any specific party but against the use of fan support for electioneering.
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